Guard rail strut or spacer



Jan. 8, 1935. J. v. STEWART GUARD RAIL STRUT OR SPACER Filed Dec. 1,1951 v INVENTOR =J0/2/2 Fflfewari I ATTORNEY-S Patented Jan. 8 1935 vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUARD RAIL STRUT QR. SPACER. John V.Stewart, Johnstown, Pa.

Application December 1, 1931, Serial No. 578,364

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved guard rail strut or spacer for usein track structures. The invention finds its particular utility inmaintaining an accurate gauge between a guard rail 5 and a frog. Theinvention will be fully apparent from the following specification whenread in connection with the accompanying drawingand the novel featureswill be defined with particularity in the appended claim.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing my improved strut or spacer operativelyassociated with a guard rail and a frog point of a track structure;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.1 to 4 inclusive, 10 represents a frog of a known type having the usualfrog point 12.

The frog, as shown, is bolted to a rail section 14 by through bolts 16.Adjacent the rail 18 of the track, there is a guard rail 20 of the usualtype.

The particular feature of my invention relates to the means foraccurately maintaining the gauge between the guard rail 20 and the frog10. This means, as illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4,includes a strut,

indicated as a whole at 22.

This strut is formed of complimentary pressed steel sections 24 and 26,each having a bearing portion 28 and an upwardly and outwardly inclinedportion 30, which terminates in a nose portion 32.

The nose portion 32 of the section 24 engages the underside of the headof the guard rail. Similarly, the

nose portion 34 of the section 26 engages the underside of the rail 14secured to and forming part of the frog 10. The sections 24 and 26 arepreferably formed of pressed steel and are each provided with areinforcing central rib, as indicated at 36.

or the like.

This being desirable in some instances to properly insulate the guardrail from the frog portions or to avoid closing a circuit across therails which might interfere with the block signalling system in certainlocations of the track structure. The parts of the strut are united bybolts 44, which pass through suitable clearance holes when'the bolts areinsulated, the heads and nuts of the bolts engaging insulating strips 46provided for the purpose. It will be readily understood that in thedescribed construction, the nose portions 32 and 34 make engagement withthe track structure at points immediately adjacent the locations wherethe wheel thrust is transmitted, hence the guard is peculiarly effectiveto counteract such thrust. also manifest that the shim arrangementprovides means whereby an accurate gauge may be maintained even thoughthere may be a discrepancy in the bending up or forming of thecomplementary parts of the strut. This isimportant as it g It is isadvisable in work of this character to allow for ness to compensate forany inequalities.

While I have described quite precisely the details of the embodiments ofthe invention illustrated, it is to be understood that modifications indesign and substitution of equivalents may be made without departurefrom the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:-

The combination with a guard rail and frog of a track structure, a strutholding them in spaced relationship comprising two identical forgedmetal sections, each having a hollow reinforcing rib substantiallycoextensive therewith and each having an intermediate portion adapted toseat on the railway tie and an outer upwardly inclined portionterminating in a nose, engaging the fillet at the intersection of theunderside of the rail head and the face of the rail web, each. sectionhaving an upturned flange at its inner extremity, spacing shims betweensaid flanges, and holding bolts piercing said flanges and shims.

JOHN V. STEWART.

inserting one or more shims of requisite thick-

